Global Update: Trump vs Powell, Palantir & Defence, XRP Near Record Highs, and Ethereum Surges
TRUMP vs POWELL: TENSIONS RISE
During a White House press conference, former President Donald Trump once again criticised Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, claiming that interest rates remain too high and hinting at political motivations.
"I think he's done a terrible job, but anyway, he’ll soon be gone. In eight months, he's out," Trump stated.
Trump labelled Powell as "too late" in his actions and suggested that he was keeping rates elevated for political reasons.
"People can't buy homes because this guy is incompetent," he said. "He's probably doing it for political gain."
PALANTIR: AI BOOSTS US DEFENCE OPERATIONS
The US Department of Defense has requested $3 billion in funding for the 2026 fiscal year to support the development of NGC2 — a next-generation military command and control system.
A $100 million contract has been awarded to the Anduril-Palantir team to build a prototype of the system, which is considered one of the department’s top priorities.
NGC2 will leverage artificial intelligence, autonomy, and cloud data processing to support faster, data-driven tactical decisions in complex environments.
APPLE EXPANDS TO SAUDI ARABIA
Apple, the world’s largest tech company by market cap ($3.17 trillion), launched its official online store and app in Saudi Arabia this week — its first retail presence in the Kingdom.
The expansion also includes support in Arabic and personalised service for customers.
Apple continues to dominate the global hardware tech market, reporting over $400 billion in revenue in the past 12 months.
XRP SURGES: NEW HIGHS AHEAD?
XRP is nearing its all-time high amid growing confidence in its technology and adoption.
The token’s unique protocol allows it to validate transactions in just four seconds at minimal cost — a key differentiator from traditional blockchains.
Its ability to handle 1,500+ transactions per second positions XRP as a powerful tool for financial institutions seeking faster and cheaper international settlements.
TESLA PRICE TARGET: $355
Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated its “Overweight” rating on Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and set a price target of $355.
The firm remains bullish on the company’s growth potential, especially in the autonomous vehicle space.
Tesla's Robotaxi business is seen as a high-margin, software-as-a-service model with major scalability. The company’s valuation now exceeds $1 trillion.
ETHEREUM ON THE RISE
Institutional interest in Ethereum continues to climb. DAOs, governments, and large companies now collectively hold over 1.7 million ETH. In July alone, ether-based ETFs saw inflows of $2.2 billion.
Further momentum could come from the GENIUS Law, a regulatory framework for stablecoins that could push the tokenised volume to $4 trillion.
Ethereum, which currently commands 49.9% of the stablecoin market, is expected to benefit significantly.
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